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Topic Review (Newest First)

10-31-2007 03:27 PM

Irelands child

Martin hammers are sold in the auto paint stores around here as well as the internet. I have one, a like new 158G, that I have seldom used and will probably sell along with a Martin 1060 dolly. Instead, I bought a real nice Fairmount Cleveland at a swap meet for $2 that needed a handle (had one). It is well balanced and I believe the predecessor to Martins. I do love my Snap-on tools but am at the point in my life that as a hobbiest even Craftsman/Kobalt/Huskee will work most of the time for me - but NOT Hava Fright junk.

Dave

10-31-2007 12:43 PM

Ricoch3T

Quote:

Originally Posted by 35WINDOW

I bought my Martin HammerS from Auto Body Toolmart-maybe somebody else has a better source, but you can also try here:

Thanks for the link, I don't know why I don't have them in my bookmarks. I think
I'ma go with them, their 7 piece kit looks good to me, few hammers, few dollies.

10-31-2007 09:46 AM

35WINDOW

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricoch3T

Sorry to bring back an old topic, but

Who sells martin hammers? Only place I could find is Eastwood. Are all Eastwood body hammers made by martin? I ask because I noticed SOME seem like they have made by martin in the description, and some don't. (from a search)http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...emType=CONTENT

I bought my Martin HammerS from Auto Body Toolmart-maybe somebody else has a better source, but you can also try here:

Who sells martin hammers? Only place I could find is Eastwood. Are all Eastwood body hammers made by martin? I ask because I noticed SOME seem like they have made by martin in the description, and some don't. (from a search)http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?i...emType=CONTENT

09-05-2007 04:36 PM

Kevin45

Quote:

I hope to use these hammers another 20 years and I'd bet the old BF604 is still hammering away!

Just think though...if anything happens to one of the hammers as in breaking of any type, it is replaced with no questions asked

09-04-2007 09:10 PM

chevyman992002

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin45

I think a lot of it depends on how far you want to go in collision repair. But as with any tool and any job, your tools are an investment. If you end up working on nothing but new stuff, you won't need any hammers at all other than a small sledge to straighten around some heavy metal. Everything else is "remove and replace". With older cars a couple of hammers and a set of dollies is a must. And one of those hammers will most definately be a "pick hammer". Then you will need a dollie set, and a set of spoons. But you will find is that you end up making different dollies and such out of different pieces of metal that you may have laying around. One tool that my dad and I use quite often was a piece of leaf spring about a foot long. Great for getting down in tight areas. Hopefully in school, you have an older teacher showing you the ropes, as quite a bit of metal finishing is a lost art anymore. I always got quite a bit of satisfaction of taking a fender that was wrecked and moving the metall back to it's original shape. And then being able to finish it off using no bondo at all. Ask most younger guys that do body work what a vixen file is, and they won't have a clue. BTW...good luck with school

Yea man, my instructors are old school. They constantly preach about metal finishing. They also taught us about using a leaf spring as a spoon. One of our comps in the shop was metal finishing. They would come buy with a hammer and beat the crap out of a panel, and we had to straighten it with hammers/dollies/bullseyes and vixen files.

09-02-2007 01:45 PM

Rambo_The_Dog

I've never used Martin tools, from the pictures they look to be of good quality.

Mostly I think Snap-On tools are overpriced, but it's hard to argue the quality and warranty. It's also a big plus when you work for a living to have the Snap-On truck roll through to warranty tools etc - rather than taking time off that you don't get paid for.

I only have a few Snap-On tools and their Body Hammers are top line IMHO...I've handled lot's of cheap hammers over the years, but when I was 18 years old I bought 3 Snap-On body hammers and 2 dollies. I used them full time for 8 years until I was 26. I still used them afterwards - just not to make a living...

Time - Warp

I'm 45 now and 2 of the 3 hammers and both dollies "grew legs" and walked away over the years.

The Snap-On BF604 hammer I have left has made me a lot of money, still has the original handle and I use it more today than I did 10 years ago

I am so sold on the quality of the Snap-On body hammers that 2 years ago I bought 6 more to fill my set out.

I hope to use these hammers another 20 years and I'd bet the old BF604 is still hammering away!

Pictured at left is the BF604 I bought when I was 18, the one on the right when I was 43

This is the Body Hammer drawer in my toolbox - nothing but Snap-On!

09-02-2007 05:57 AM

Kevin45

Quote:

Thanks alot for the input guys. I'm in school for collision right now and am just trying to get an idea of what tool sets might be best for when I graduate. Trying to get the most bang for my buck. Thanks again.

I think a lot of it depends on how far you want to go in collision repair. But as with any tool and any job, your tools are an investment. If you end up working on nothing but new stuff, you won't need any hammers at all other than a small sledge to straighten around some heavy metal. Everything else is "remove and replace". With older cars a couple of hammers and a set of dollies is a must. And one of those hammers will most definately be a "pick hammer". Then you will need a dollie set, and a set of spoons. But you will find is that you end up making different dollies and such out of different pieces of metal that you may have laying around. One tool that my dad and I use quite often was a piece of leaf spring about a foot long. Great for getting down in tight areas. Hopefully in school, you have an older teacher showing you the ropes, as quite a bit of metal finishing is a lost art anymore. I always got quite a bit of satisfaction of taking a fender that was wrecked and moving the metall back to it's original shape. And then being able to finish it off using no bondo at all. Ask most younger guys that do body work what a vixen file is, and they won't have a clue. BTW...good luck with school

08-31-2007 11:01 AM

wedgehead63

Several of the big tool companies (Mac, Snap-on) use Martin relabeled. There is a reason. I love my Martin stuff. I use three hammers and four dollies. I have never been one to buy the specialty items. I am probably not smart enough to use them anyway. I love my strawberry pick/flat face Martin along with my favorite heel dolly. Simple tools for a simpleton!My 2 cents

08-20-2007 10:12 PM

chevyman992002

Thanks alot for the input guys!

08-20-2007 03:59 PM

oldred

MartinSr had this a while back in the paint and body section, this guy knows body tools.

I wasn't real happy with the quality of the Eastwood hammers, Harbor Freight is about the same quality wise and a lot cheaper. Dan

08-20-2007 12:20 PM

10Tonhammer

I bought the snap on set when I was in school. Years later I wish I would have used the money elsewere. The Martin hammers are better quality, but really you use the cross peen and chisel will be the hammers you use 9.5 times out of 10. You can spend a lot of money on hammers and dollies but really there is only a couple you'll use everyday in the body shop now and again the others will come in handy but unless your going into a metal shaping shop I'd get the nessities and save money for other things. Al long as your hammers are fored you can always clean up shape and polish the surface and an atd 40$$ set would do great. The better hammers are just more comfy in your hand. I like snap-on but won't spend another dime on it.

Kris

08-20-2007 11:42 AM

Brimstone

Eastwood #31198 (3 hammers & 4 dollies in a case) - $90 as-is, but if you know anyone who lives near their store, they can pickup the same set at the "scratch-and-dent" table at a significant discount (my Dad got this set for $30, I scored the same set for $20, and the only problem was the interior of the case was cracked)

- Mike

08-19-2007 10:08 PM

Chevrolet4x4s

I got a decent set from cummins tool sale for 15 bucks 3 hammers and 4 dollies in a blow molded plastic case. Probabally not as good as snapon but they aint bad
Shane

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